Brief bag



s. KLE HR BRIEF BAG May 3, 1955 Filed March 4, 1953 d llldllllllll J/ INVENTOR. 5AMUL A2 EH1? n u I 1 A TTOR/VEK United States Patent BRIEF BAG Samuel Klehr, Newark, N. J.

Application March 4, 1953, Serial No.- 340,210

2 Claims. (Cl. 150-1.6)

The present invention deals with a brief bag, and more particularly with a brief bag of the type having the mouth thereof defined by a framework consisting of a pair of complementary U-shaped frame members pivotally joined at their ends and telescopically mounted in relation to each other, whereby the brief bag is adapted for opening a the bridge portion of that member to which a bag handle is secured is subject to upward arcing or curvature caused by the weight of the bag and its contents, whereby a vertical separation or spacing between the telescoped members of the closed bag will exist so that the brief bag will be improperly closed.

Brief bags of the type hereinabove described are of necessity provided with a lock means in order to keep the brief bag closed when carried by a handle provided therefor and secured as above set forth, i. e. secured to the bridge portion of a U-shaped member. Such lock means consists of a tongue attached to an upper portion of one side of the bag and having a length sufficient to straddle the closed mouth of the bag to engage a lock on the other side of the bag. The free endportion of the tongue is provided with a hasp which engages a selective lock aperture which is one of a plurality of vertically spaced apertures on the locking means.

When the hasp of the tongue engages the lowermost of the vertically arranged apertures, the tongue is caused to straddle the bag mouth with a snug fit so that the tongue is taut in its straddled locked position. In such case, the tongue prevents the upward arcing of the bridge portion of the U-shaped member to which the handle is secured so that the brief bag is satisfactorily closed when carried.

When the hasp of the tongue engages an intermediate one of the vertically arranged lock apertures, the tongue only loosely straddles the bag mouth whereupon the aforementioned vertical spacing between the telescoped U-shaped members of the closed bag will occur when the bag is carried resulting in an improperly closed bag.

When the brief bag is filled to capacity to the extent that the tongue in straddling the mouth of the bag can engage only an uppermost aperture of the vertically arranged lock apertures, the U-shaped frame members are caused to separate laterally as well as vertically resulting in a strain on the lock components as well as an undesirably wide opening of the bag.

Furthermore, if brief bags as above described are not securely locked before being picked up for carrying, the bag will become suddenly opened to its fullest extent upon being picked up whereupon the full weight of the 2,707,505 Patented May 3, 1955 ice bag and its contents is supported only by the U-shaped frame member to which the handle is secured resulting in the said frame member being subjected to bending strains such that undesirable vertical spacing between the telescoping frame members is further aggravated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a brief bag of the type described with means for insuring proper closing of the brief bag. It is another object of the present invention to provide a brief bag of the type described with supplemental lock means cooperative with a main lock means for insuring proper closing of the brief bag. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brief bag of the type described with a combination lock and support means cooperative with a main lock means for insuring proper closing of the brief bag. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter following and the drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brief bag according to this invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pair of cooperating components of this invention along line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pair of cooperating components along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 when in overlying relationship.

According to the present invention, the brief bag cornprises a supplemental lock means or a combination supplemental lock and support cooperative with a main lock means whereby telescoping U-shaped frame members are supported against vertical and lateral spacing of a closed brief bag and whereby strains against main loci; components are substantially avoided thereby insuring against improper closing of the brief bag and further insuring against accidental opening of the brief bag and against excessive strains on the U-shaped frame members.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a brief bag according to this invention showing sides 1 and 2 connected by a gusset 3, e. g. a gusset of the expandable type, including a bottom 4. The top portions of the sides 1 and 2 are preferably curved inwardly facing each other and are secured to two U-shaped members having bridge portions 5 and 6, respectively, and particularly to the said bridge portions. The upper portions of the gusset 3 separating said sides are secured on both ends of the brief bag to the legs of the U-shaped frame members, e. legs 7 and 8. The opening or mouth of the brief bag is defined by a frame composed of the said U-shaped frame members which are pivotally secured to each other by pivot pins 9, or the like, at the ends of the legs, e. g. legs 7 and 8, said U-shaped members being telescopically mounted in relation to each other in such manner that one of said U-shaped frame members fits into the other so that when the brief bag is in closed position one of the frame members becomes an upper member and the other a lower member in vertically juxtaposed relationship with the upper member. A handle it! is secured to the upper member, e. g. on the bridge portion 6 of the upper U-shaped member.

Angular movement of the U-shaped frame members results in the opening and closing of the brief bag.

Brief bags of the type above described are provided with a locking means, hereinafter referred to as main locking means, comprising a tongue 11 secured to a top central portion of one side, e. g. side 2, and of a length suiiicient to straddle the mouth of the bag, when in closed position, and engage a lock member 12 positioned on the other side of the brief bag, e. g. side 1. The free end of the tongue 11 is provided with a hasp 13 engageable with one of a plurality of vertically spaced lock apertures, e. g.

vertically spaced lock apertures 14, 15, and 16 of lock member 12, as illustrated.

When the bag is closed and the tongue 11 straddles the mouth of the bag so that the hasp 13 engages the lowermost aperture 16, the tongue is sufiiciently taut over the bridges 5 and 6 to preclude vertical separation of the bridge 6 from bridge 5 and the bag remains satisfactorily closed.

When the bag is closed and the tongue 11 straddles the mouth of the bag so that the hasp 13 engages an intermediate aperture of lock 12, e. g. aperture 15, the tongue is only loosely straddled over the bridges 5 and 6 resulting in undesirable vertical separation between the telescoped bridges 5 and 6 due to the weight of the bag and its contents.

By engaging the hasp 13 with an upper aperture, e. g. aperture 14, the tongue is still more loosely straddled over the bag mouth and vertical as well as lateral separation of the bridges 5 and 6 will result.

In order to insure against such undesirable separation of bridges 5 and 6, the present invention provides for a supplemental snap-lock support cooperative with the said main locking means hereinabove described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the supplemental snaplock support comprises a pair of complementary com ponents 17 and 18. The component 17 comprises a substantially flat plate 19 provided with a raised portion or bead 20, e. g. an elongated bead, and secured to the top of the upper reach or bridge 6 by retaining means 21 and 22, e. g. screws or rivets and the like.

The component 18 comprises a substantially resilient spring clip engageable with the component 17. The spring clip is preferably in the form of an elongated U-shaped member having upper and lower sides or legs, e. g. upper side 23 and lower side 24, of which the lower side 24 is secured to the top of the lower reach or bridge 5 by retaining means 25 and 26, e. g. screws, rivets and the like. The lower side 24 of the clip 18 is substantially flat, While the upper resilient side 23 is provided preferably with a receiving groove 27 substantially longitudinally thereof and receptive to the bead 20 of component 17. The free edge 28 of the upper side 23 is preferably turned upwardly to facilitate the engagement of the spring clip 18 with the component 17.

In operation, as the U-shaped frame members are telescoped in the closing of the brief bag, the upper side 23 of spring clip 18 engages the bead 20 and rides thereover, due to the resiliency of the clip, until the bead 20 snaplocks into the groove 27. Since the U-shaped members are thereby snapped into a teiescoped position such that the U-shaped frame members are in close vertically juxtaposed position, a laterai separation of the frame members is precluded until the bag is purposely opened by pulling outwardly on the tab 29 provided therefor and positioned on side 1 of the brief bag in proximity to the spring clip.

Furthermore, since the spring clip embraces the component 17, and is secured to the lower bridge 5, it likewise embraces the reach or bridge of the upper U-shaped frame member 6 thereby supporting the bridges 5 and 6 closely vertically juxtaposed and preventing vertical separation of the said upper and lower telcscoped bridges 5 and 6 so that the bag is satisfactorily locked against vertical and lateral separation of the said frame members.

As is apparent from the drawings, the tongue 11, in straddling the mouth of the brief bag also covers the snaplock support of the invention so that the snap-lock support is itself not visible when components of the main locking means are engaged, i. e. when the hasp 13 engages one of the apertures of the lock 12.

Moreover, when the brief bag of this invention is in snap-locked position, the components of the main locking means are substantially relieved from strains such as would be brought to bear thereupon, for example, when the brief bag is filled to capacity such that the tongue 11 can engage only the uppermost lock aperture, e. g. aperture 14.

Conversely, since the snap-lock support is substantially resilient, it would be, when employed alone, subject under extreme conditions to unlocking, but is advantageously protected against such unlocking by the cooperative function of the main locking means.

What I claim is:

l. A brief bag comprising two sides and gussets between said sides, a pair of U-shaped frame members pivotally joined at their ends and secured to said gussets and said sides and defining the mouth of said brief bag, a snap-lock support operatively associated with said frame members, said snap-lock support comprising a beaded plate member secured to one of said frame members and a substantially resilient complementary clip member secured to the other of said frame members, a groove in said clip member engageable with the head of said beaded plate member, said clip member engaging said plate member against vertical and lateral separation of said frame members, a tongue secured to a top portion of one of said sides, a hasp on the free end of said tongue, lock means on the other of said sides, said tongue having a length suflicient to straddle said mouth in closed position to enable said hasp to engage said lock.

2. A brief bag comprising two sides and gussets between said sides, a pair of U-shaped telescoping frame members pivotally joined at their ends, said frame members being secured to said gussets and said sides and defining the mouth of said brief bag, a snap-lock support, said snap-lock support comprising a beaded plate member secured to the top of one of said frame members, a complementary substantially U-shaped clip member secured to the top of the other of said frame members, said clip member having upper and lower sides, a groove in said upper side engageable with the bead of said beaded member, said upper side having an upwardly curved edge, said clip member embracing said plate member against vertical and lateral separation of said frame members, means for disengaging said snap-lock support a tongue secured to the top portion of one of said sides and covering said snap-lock support, a hasp on the free end of said tongue, lock means on the other of said sides, said tongue having a length sufiicient to straddle said mouth in closed position to enable said hasp to engage said lock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,749 Hiering et al. Sept. 17, 1912 1,220,224 Heilmann Mar. 27, 1917 1,533,149 Tueckmantel Apr. 14, 1925 1,662,837 Stuart Mar. 20, 1928 1,938,519 Detfenbaugh Dec. 5, 1933 2,045,642 Goerdes June 30, 1936 2,474,003 Lifton June 21, 1949 2,630,851 Rodgers Mar. 10, 1953 

